Document Detail


What do patients expect from their first visit to a pain clinic?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15951646     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To examine patients' expectations of their first outpatient visit to a pain clinic. We asked patients what would be the most satisfying and the most disappointing outcomes of their visit and whether they expected changes in medication and further investigations to result from their consultation. DESIGN: Patients completed questionnaires and a structured interview to assess expectations before their clinic appointment. METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with chronic pain who were first time referrals to a regional pain clinic participated in the study. Patient expectations and questionnaires measuring depression and pain-related disability were completed prior to the pain clinic appointment. RESULTS: Most patients expected an explanation or an improved understanding of their pain problem. The most common satisfying outcome was relief or control of pain, and the most common disappointing outcome was being told nothing could be done. The majority of patients expected further medical investigations and changes to the prescribed medication. Depression and pain-related disability strongly influenced patient expectations. CONCLUSIONS: For patients attending pain clinics, the explanation of their pain problem is rated as important as the cure or relief of their pain. Improved understanding of patient expectations by pain clinic clinicians may lead to greater patient satisfaction and reduced treatment dropout.
Authors:
Keith J Petrie; Tim Frampton; Robert G Large; Rona Moss-Morris; Malcolm Johnson; Geraldine Meechan
Related Documents :
20954776 - Cost-benefit analysis of multisystemic therapy with serious and violent juvenile offend...
16334446 - From acute to chronic pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective follow-up ...
15358886 - 'i had this horrible pain': the sources and causes of pain experiences in 4- to 11-year...
12791436 - The impact of post-operative pain on outcomes following hip fracture.
21173526 - Menstrual cycle and menstrual pain problems and related risk factors among japanese fem...
17416136 - Metabolic and clinical traits in horses undergoing feed deprivation for elective orthop...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Clinical journal of pain     Volume:  21     ISSN:  0749-8047     ISO Abbreviation:  Clin J Pain     Publication Date:    2005 Jul-Aug
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-06-13     Completed Date:  2005-08-29     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8507389     Medline TA:  Clin J Pain     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  297-301     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Health Psychology, University of Auckland and The Auckland Regional Pain Service, Auckland Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. kj.petrie@auckland.ac.nz
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Analgesics / therapeutic use
Appointments and Schedules
Attitude of Health Personnel
Chronic Disease
Depressive Disorder / diagnosis
Disability Evaluation
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Pain / diagnosis,  drug therapy,  psychology*
Pain Clinics / standards*,  utilization
Pain Measurement
Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology
Patient Dropouts
Patient Satisfaction*
Physician-Patient Relations
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Questionnaires
Referral and Consultation
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Analgesics

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Sensitivity of pain rating scales in an endoscopy trial.
Next Document:  Patient satisfaction with treatment for chronic pain: predictors and relationship to compliance.